STRINGENT inspections have been demanded as barber shops and salons are set to be back in business today after remaining shuttered for more than two months amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
However, authorities have specified strict guidelines under which these businesses are being allowed to reopen as Bahrain tries to combat the spread of Covid-19.
MP Khalid Bu Onk questioned the preparedness of the ministries of Health and Industry, Commerce and Tourism to monitor salons and barber shops across Bahrain.
According to him, there were 1,656 active male barber shops and 1,138 active female salons in Bahrain, totalling 2,794 active establishments.
Salons, which have been closed since March 18, will reopen today under strict guidelines that include closed waiting areas and suspending certain services.
Barbers can attend only to customers with confirmed appointments, customers must maintain a distance of two metres from each other and staff have to sterilise surfaces after each use.
In addition, all workers in salons and barber shops must wear masks, gloves, disposable aprons and food and beverages will not be served to customers.
.jpg)
“If these establishments don’t adhere to the strict measures in place and if the ministries aren’t prepared to closely monitor the operations there may be a huge increase in the number of Covid-19 cases,” said Mr Bu Onk.
“If there are not enough inspectors to closely monitor the establishments, then there should be a rethink on reopening them.
“There is also the question of how these establishments will operate under the new imposed safety measures which are costly and could lead to them raising their prices to make up for the large financial damage they suffered during the closure.”
.jpg)
The parliamentarian urged the ministries to combine their workforce and set up inspection campaigns on a daily basis across Bahrain.
The GDN reported yesterday that several rogue Asian barbers had been caught red-handed while providing services to customers at their homes in Muharraq and were arrested following complaints received by authorities.
The Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry had previously warned salons against providing services at home or in salons behind closed doors.
The GDN reported that a woman is facing trial for providing beauty salon services illegally at a customer’s home.
She was arrested during a sting operation and released on BD500 bail pending trial.
A men’s salon in Sanabis was also closed down after it was found the Bangladeshi barber was providing services inside with the shutters down.
Meanwhile, Bahraini Abdullah Abdulwahid told the GDN that he had already booked an appointment at the barber shop as soon as the announcement was made.
“We know these are extraordinary times but life must go on and as long as the measures are properly implemented and I take my precautions as well, there should be no problem in going to the barbershop,” said the 34-year-old.
“I have my own shaving kit and machine that I use at home and I’ll take that with me to the barber shop and I’ll disinfect it before I bring it back with me.”
However, Yousif Mahmood, who has let his hair and beard grow for the past two months, had a different view.
“I have never had a beard this thick or hair this long but the situation doesn’t allow me to take a risk and venture into a barber shop even if measures are applied,” said the 25-year-old Bahraini.
“Going to the barber shop isn’t an emergency and my parents are high risk as they have chronic illnesses so I would never risk their health just to get a haircut.”
reem@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))